Spain's rapid and successful transition from an outdated authoritative system to a modern parliamentary democracy has attracted worldwide interest. Some 750 alphabetically-arranged entries provide insights into the exciting cultural and political developments within Spain, including the cultures of Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque country. Coverage spans from the end of the Civil War in 1939 to the present day, with emphasis on the changes made since the demise of the Franco dictatorship in 1975. Culture is defined in its broadest sense encompassing a wide variety of subjects, including entries on: AdvertisingAntonio BanderasDanceDetective fictionEducationFashionAntonio GaudíGolfJournalismOperaPoliticsRacismScienceSculptureSt ock exchangesTennis TheatreUrbanizationEntries range from shorter, factual articles to longer overview essays which offer an in-depth treatment of major issues. Annotated suggestions for further reading follow the longer articles and include both Spanish and English works. A comprehensive system of cross-referencing and a thematic contents list help the reader navigate a path through the entries. The Encyclopedia provides a cultural context for students of Spanish, European Studies, Business and Management as well as providing a fascinating insight into Spanish culture for the general reader.
